Can Justin Bieber be deported?

By

HLN Staff

Updated 8:12 AM EST,

Fri January 24, 2014

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The simple answer is yes: Justin Bieber can be deported to Canada (where he is a citizen) if he is convicted of a crime. But is that likely to happen? Probably not, according to immigration lawyer Rahul Manchanda, who has a practice in New York.

"The whole thing boils down to what happens to the criminal case," Manchanda told HLN. "If the case is disposed of, then theoretically he could avoid the immigration consequence. But if he gets any kind of conviction at all, he could be looking at deportation."

Bieber was arrested early Thursday in South Florida and charged with DUI, resisting arrest without violence and driving with an invalid driver's license, according to Miami Police Chief Raymond Martinez. Martinez said Bieber admitted to officers that he had been drinking alcohol, using marijuana and had taken prescription drugs prior to his arrest.

"A person may be brought in for deportation proceedings for an 'aggravated felony' or a 'crime of moral turpitude,'" Politan said. "DUI is not an aggravated felony. However, 'aggravated DUI' can be considered a crime of moral turpitude. An aggravated DUI in Florida is generally charged for repeat offenders or in cases where an accident has occurred resulting in serious injury or death."

Politan also agreed that Bieber would not likely face deportation as a result of these charges.